The Frozen Land of the Penguins

Overview

Venture to Antarctica for a close encounter with its penguins and other wildlife. In addition to beautiful landscapes, you will observe chinstrap, gentoo, and adelie penguins in their rookeries on the Antarctic Islands, some with hundreds of thousands of birds, and the seals and whales that inhabit the Antarctic Sound. You will also visit the British base of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island, which offers a peek into life on an Antarctic base in the 1950s. This will truly be an unforgettable experience.

In addition to spotting the wandering albatross and other seabirds, the crossing of the Drake Passage features our lecture series focusing on the history, environment, and wildlife of Antarctica. Out series also includes a thorough introduction to the Antarctic visitor guidelines from the Antarctic Treaty and International Association of Tour Operators (IAATO). Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

During these two days at sea, you have time to get prepared for Antarctica and the close encounters with Antarctica’s wildlife, particularly the penguins. These amazing birds in their large, dense ‘rookeries’, some with 180,000 or more birds, will astound you. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Antarctica is different from anywhere else you will ever experience! Once we have crossed the Antarctic Convergence you will start feeling the air getting crisper and colder. You will begin to see Antarctic penguins in the water, and don’t forget to be on the lookout for the first iceberg. There are no permanent human inhabitants in Antarctica, but it is home to millions of penguins and the feeding area for thousands of whales. The penguins are fearless when encountering humans – they might be just as curious about you as you are about them.

Some of the highlights are Deception Island and Half Moon Island, because of the resident colonies of chinstrap penguins. Enjoy beautiful vistas and the gentoo penguin colonies on Yankee Harbour, Cuverville Island, Neko Harbour, and Paradise Harbour.

On Petermann Island you will see thousands of Adélie penguins. The British base in Port Lockroy is one of the most popular sites in Antarctica, and offers a peek into life on an Antarctic base in the 1950s. The nesting gentoo penguins surrounding the main building have become accustomed to the frequent human visitors.

The huge ice shelves of the Antarctic sound are home to an estimated half million Adélie penguins as well as gentoo penguins, leopard seals, and killer whales. The best way to experience Adélie penguins at Brown Bluff is to sit quietly and watch nature’s cutest comedians at work. When opportunities arise we will launch our kayaks, pitch tents ashore, and take you on unforgettable hikes to explore one the most beautiful, untouched places on the planet. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Accommodations

Antarctica

Additional Details

Group/Private: All services included in this tour are operated on a group basis.

Elevations: N/a.

Passport/Visa: U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a valid passport (for the duration of your visit) and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Australian and Canadian citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee of $100 and $75 respectively (subject to change without notice due to currency fluctuations or other reasons) online, and must show proof of payment prior to arrival. The reciprocity fee for U.S. citizens has been suspended until further notice. For citizens of Australia, this fee covers unlimited entries to Argentina for 10 years, while citizens of Canada are charged the fee every time they enter the country (or $150 for multiple visits within five years). The fee can be paid online at ProvinciaNet.com.ar. You will need to register in order to make the payment. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the embassy of Argentina in their country before traveling.

Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan. The operator of the ship recommends that you purchase Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance (minimum recommended amount is $100,000).

To Book This Trip: Call or email us to confirm the availability of this ship for your desired dates of travel. Depending on the cabin type and occupancy (single or double), the required deposit is between $1,900 and $6,000. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure.